Shabana players make a U-turn, resume training

National Super League side Shabana FC had their players resume training Tuesday after staging a boycott yesterday citing unpaid allowances as the club continues to writhe in financial turmoil.

By Monday morning the club had not offset player allowances and a majority of them elected to keep off training until their dues are settled.

However, in a drastic turn of events, the players resumed training as the management appeals to the government to expedite the release of the Ksh5 million kitty President Kenyatta pledged, to support them during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations held at the club’s home ground Gusii stadium.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, club chairman Jared Niverton Ombongi said the players resumed their training sessions today morning at the Cardinal Otunga Mosocho grounds as they work out on finding a solution to their financial quagmire.

He also intimated that the team is still struggling financially despite concerted efforts from the management and fans.

“The players returned to training today morning in a bid to get ready for the season.

“We recruited heavily in readiness for the season but sustaining this large group has become unbearable.

“The kitty the president promised us is yet to materialize meaning we as the management and the fans have had to dig into our pockets to facilitate our preseason.”

He has urged the government to expedite the processing of the kitty to help the team get ready for the season.

Club secretary general Evans Kibagendi has issued a rallying call to the regional leaders and the county government of Kisii and Nyamira to help the team rediscover its former glory.

“Running the club has become tough, especially now that everyone’s revenues have dwindled.

“We are ready to work with both county governments to ensure that the team’s future is secure,” he noted.

The club signed players from the top three divisions and hopes they will help to turn around its fortunes after finishing in mid-table positions in the last two seasons.

The team boasts arguably the biggest fan base in the NSL and is desperately eyeing a return to the top tier league after a five-year hiatus.

The Gusii based side was ranked 11th before the 2019/20 NSL season ended prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.